Pathological Findings in the Pituitary Glands of Dogs and Cats.
Authors: Polledo Laura, Grinwis Guy C M, Graham Peter, Dunning Mark, Baiker Kerstin
Journal: Veterinary pathology
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Pituitary Pathology in Dogs and Cats Whilst functional pituitary adenomas are well-recognised in equine practice, little is known about the broader spectrum of pituitary lesions in small animals or their prevalence in asymptomatic populations. Researchers examined pituitary tissue from 136 dogs and 65 cats collected during routine necropsy, using histological staining techniques and immunohistochemistry to characterise any abnormalities present. Pituitary lesions were remarkably common, occurring in 26.4% of dogs and 15.3% of cats; cystic changes dominated (13.2% of dogs, 12.3% of cats), whilst neoplasia affected 14.1% of middle-aged and older dogs, distinguished from hyperplastic nodules by loss of normal reticulin architecture and PAS-positive cytoplasmic granules. Crucially, these lesions proved largely subclinical—only 2.9% of affected dogs and none of the cats showed clinical signs—raising important questions about whether incidental pituitary findings warrant investigation or treatment in practice. For equine professionals managing endocrine cases, these findings underscore the need for careful interpretation of pituitary imaging and the importance of correlating structural abnormalities with clinical and biochemical evidence before intervening.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Pituitary abnormalities are incidental findings in a significant proportion of dogs and cats and may not require clinical intervention
- •The high prevalence of subclinical pituitary lesions suggests caution in attributing clinical signs to pituitary pathology without additional diagnostic confirmation
- •Further investigation is needed to determine which pituitary lesions have clinical relevance versus those that remain incidental throughout life
Key Findings
- •Pituitary abnormalities were identified in 26.4% of dogs (36/136) and 15.3% of cats (10/65) at necropsy
- •Cystic changes were the most common lesion, occurring in 13.2% of dogs and 12.3% of cats
- •Pituitary neoplasia was detected in 14.1% of middle-aged and old dogs
- •In most cases pituitary lesions were subclinical, with clinical manifestations evident in only 2.9% of affected dogs and none of the affected cats